ACMG Statements and Guidelines
These online statements and guidelines are definitive and may be cited using the digital object identifier (DOI). These recommendations are designed primarily as an educational resource for medical geneticists and other healthcare providers to help them provide quality medical genetics services; they should not be considered inclusive of all proper procedures and tests or exclusive of other procedures and tests that are reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. Please refer to the leading disclaimer in each document for more information.
Considerations for policymakers for improving health care through telegenetics: A points to consider statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Telegenetics, a form of telemedicine, is 2-way, interactive real-time electronic information communication between a patient and genetics health care professional(s) (ie, medical geneticists [physicians who specialize in genetics] and genetic counselors [health care workers with training in medical genetics and counseling]) as an alternate to providing health care in person at a medical office.1,2 These services include, but are not limited to, assessment, diagnosis, consultation, test result release, education, counseling, management of care, and/or aided self-management.ACMG SF v3.1 list for reporting of secondary findings in clinical exome and genome sequencing: A policy statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) previously published guidance for reporting secondary findings (SF) in the context of clinical exome and genome sequencing in 2013, 2017, and 2021.1-3 The ACMG Secondary Findings Working Group (SFWG) and Board of Directors (BOD) have agreed that the list of recommended genes should now be updated annually, but with an ongoing goal of maintaining this as a minimum list. Reporting of SF should be considered neither a replacement for indication-based diagnostic clinical genetic testing nor a form of population screening.Systematic evidence-based review: The application of noninvasive prenatal screening using cell-free DNA in general-risk pregnancies
Noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) using cell-free DNA has been assimilated into prenatal care. Prior studies examined clinical validity and technical performance in high-risk populations. This systematic evidence review evaluates NIPS performance in a general-risk population.Clinical evaluation and etiologic diagnosis of hearing loss: A clinical practice resource of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Hearing loss is a common and complex condition that can occur at any age, can be inherited or acquired, and is associated with a remarkably wide array of etiologies. The diverse causes of hearing loss, combined with the highly variable and often overlapping presentations of different forms of hearing loss, challenge the ability of traditional clinical evaluations to arrive at an etiologic diagnosis for many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. However, identifying the etiology of hearing loss may affect clinical management, improve prognostic accuracy, and refine genetic counseling and assessment of the likelihood of recurrence for relatives of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.Response to Righetti et al
We thank Righetti et al1 for their interest in our article titled Screening for autosomal recessive and X-linked conditions during pregnancy and preconception: a practice resource of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG).2 We were pleased to learn that the investigators from the Australian Reproductive Genetic Carrier Screening Project (ARGCSP) are in agreement with many aspects of this practice resource.Clinical pharmacogenomic testing and reporting: A technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Pharmacogenomic testing interrogates germline sequence variants implicated in interindividual drug response variability to infer a drug response phenotype and to guide medication management for certain drugs. Specifically, discrete aspects of pharmacokinetics, such as drug metabolism, and pharmacodynamics, as well as drug sensitivity, can be predicted by genes that code for proteins involved in these pathways. Pharmacogenomics is unique and differs from inherited disease genetics because the drug response phenotype can be drug-dependent and is often unrecognized until an unexpected drug reaction occurs or a patient fails to respond to a medication.Measurement of lysosomal enzyme activities: A technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Assays that measure lysosomal enzyme activity are important tools for the screening and diagnosis of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). They are often ordered in combination with urine oligosaccharide and glycosaminoglycan analysis, additional biomarker assays, and/or DNA sequencing when an LSD is suspected. Enzyme testing in whole blood/leukocytes, serum/plasma, cultured fibroblasts, or dried blood spots demonstrating deficient enzyme activity remains a key component of LSD diagnosis and is often prompted by characteristic clinical findings, abnormal newborn screening, abnormal biochemical findings (eg, elevated glycosaminoglycans), or molecular results indicating pathogenic variants or variants of uncertain significance in a gene associated with an LSD.Stewardship of patient genomic data: A policy statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Human genomic data linked to health records have become valuable in the quest to establish correlations between disease and genetic information. As a result, it has become increasingly common for patient genetic information obtained through clinical testing or other means to be de-identified and linked to health records for sale or transfer to a third party for research and development purposes (eg, novel drug targets, patient and provider tools for managing health care). Unlike many other elements within the de-identified data set, however, the patient’s genetic information in various forms (eg, DNA sequence, RNA sequence, aggregated variant data, optical mapping) may be sufficiently information-rich to permit reidentification of the patient using informatics tools in some cases and is considered by some to be inherently identifiable.Points to consider to avoid unfair discrimination and the misuse of genetic information: A statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
In this era of precision medicine, the incorporation of genetic and genomic information, herein referred to as genetic information, into health care has gained unprecedented attention. As a result of the rapid decline in the cost of DNA sequencing, these data are now routinely used for diagnostic purposes and preventive health screening. In addition to the application of genetic information to support diagnosis and management, consumers may directly access various genetic testing–based products for medical and nonmedical uses, and some employers now offer wellness genetic testing to their employees as a benefit.Interpretation and reporting of large regions of homozygosity and suspected consanguinity/uniparental disomy, 2021 revision: A technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Genomic testing, including single-nucleotide variation (formerly single-nucleotide polymorphism)–based chromosomal microarray and exome and genome sequencing, can detect long regions of homozygosity (ROH) within the genome. Genomic testing can also detect possible uniparental disomy (UPD). Platforms that can detect ROH and possible UPD have matured since the initial American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) standard was published in 2013, and the detection of ROH and UPD by these platforms has shown utility in diagnosis of patients with genetic/genomic disorders.Addendum: Technical standards and guidelines: Molecular genetic testing for ultra-rare disorders
This document was retired by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Board of Directors as of May 20, 2019 with the following addendum.Correction: Technical standards for the interpretation and reporting of constitutional copy-number variants: a joint consensus recommendation of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen)
The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-019-0686-8 .Exome and genome sequencing for pediatric patients with congenital anomalies or intellectual disability: an evidence-based clinical guideline of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
To develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the use of exome and genome sequencing (ES/GS) in the care of pediatric patients with one or more congenital anomalies (CA) with onset prior to age 1 year or developmental delay (DD) or intellectual disability (ID) with onset prior to age 18 years.Direct-to-consumer prenatal testing for multigenic or polygenic disorders: a position statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-021-01275-x .Screening for autosomal recessive and X-linked conditions during pregnancy and preconception: a practice resource of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Carrier screening began 50 years ago with screening for conditions that have a high prevalence in defined racial/ethnic groups (e.g., Tay–Sachs disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish population; sickle cell disease in Black individuals). Cystic fibrosis was the first medical condition for which panethnic screening was recommended, followed by spinal muscular atrophy. Next-generation sequencing allows low cost and high throughput identification of sequence variants across many genes simultaneously. Since the phrase “expanded carrier screening” is nonspecific, there is a need to define carrier screening processes in a way that will allow equitable opportunity for patients to learn their reproductive risks using next-generation sequencing technology.Chromosomal microarray analysis, including constitutional and neoplastic disease applications, 2021 revision: a technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Chromosomal microarray technologies, including array comparative genomic hybridization and single-nucleotide polymorphism array, are widely applied in the diagnostic evaluation for both constitutional and neoplastic disorders. In a constitutional setting, this technology is accepted as the first-tier test for the evaluation of chromosomal imbalances associated with intellectual disability, autism, and/or multiple congenital anomalies. Furthermore, chromosomal microarray analysis is recommended for patients undergoing invasive prenatal diagnosis with one or more major fetal structural abnormalities identified by ultrasonographic examination, and in the evaluation of intrauterine fetal demise or stillbirth when further cytogenetic analysis is desired.Management of individuals with germline variants in PALB2: a clinical practice resource of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
PALB2 germline pathogenic variants are associated with increased breast cancer risk and smaller increased risk of pancreatic and likely ovarian cancer. Resources for health-care professionals managing PALB2 heterozygotes are currently limited.ACMG SF v3.0 list for reporting of secondary findings in clinical exome and genome sequencing: a policy statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-021-01278-8 .Incidental detection of acquired variants in germline genetic and genomic testing: a points to consider statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
With recent advances in DNA sequencing technology, it is now possible to begin to appreciate the full scope of DNA variation that arises over the course of an individual’s lifetime.1,2 Our understanding of how the human genome changes over time and in response to external exposures is growing with the improved availability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) based testing, including exome/genome sequencing of large patient cohorts. Clinical laboratories employing NGS-based methodologies can detect many types of DNA sequence variation including those that are present at a reduced variant allele fraction (VAF) (i.e., less than the 50% expected for a heterozygous germline finding).DNA-based screening and population health: a points to consider statement for programs and sponsoring organizations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
A comment to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-021-01141-w .DNA-based screening and personal health: a points to consider statement for individuals and health-care providers from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
A comment to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-021-01141-w .Focused Revision: ACMG practice resource: Genetic evaluation of short stature
Addendum to: “ACMG practice guideline: Genetic evaluation of short stature”. Laurie H. Seaver, MD and Mira Irons, MD; ACMG Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee Genetics in Medicine 11:465–470 (2009); https://doi.org/10.1097/GIM.0b013e3181a7e8f8 ; published online 02 April 2009.Laboratory testing for fragile X, 2021 revision: a technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Molecular genetic testing of the FMR1 gene is commonly performed in clinical laboratories. Pathogenic variants in the FMR1 gene are associated with fragile X syndrome, fragile X–associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), and fragile X–associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI). This document provides updated information regarding FMR1 pathogenic variants, including prevalence, genotype–phenotype correlations, and variant nomenclature. Methodological considerations are provided for Southern blot analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of FMR1, including triplet repeat–primed and methylation-specific PCR.Laboratory analysis of acylcarnitines, 2020 update: a technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
Acylcarnitine analysis is a useful test for identifying patients with inborn errors of mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation and certain organic acidemias. Plasma is routinely used in the diagnostic workup of symptomatic patients. Urine analysis of targeted acylcarnitine species may be helpful in the diagnosis of glutaric acidemia type I and other disorders in which polar acylcarnitine species accumulate. For newborn screening applications, dried blood spot acylcarnitine analysis can be performed as a multiplex assay with other analytes, including amino acids, succinylacetone, guanidinoacetate, creatine, and lysophosphatidylcholines.Addendum: ACMG Practice Guideline: lack of evidence for MTHFR polymorphism testing
This is an addendum to the article available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/gim.2012.165 .
